Adding offsite guests to FP+ selections?

[disneyphun]

I'm traveling to WDW in April with multiple familes, some of which are staying offsite. Since we're staying onsite, at the 60-day mark I plan to begin making FP+ selections for my family. On the days we meet the offsite families at the parks, is there a way for me to add them to our FP+ selections since we'll all be in the same group? Or am I strictly limited to the guests staying with me onsite?

 

[aaarcher86]

Only for guests on site for now.

 

[chartle]

and this could all change before then.

I give it a 50-50 chance.

 

[AmyB2006]

LOL, I was gonna say, by April, anything is possible. Heck, Mine Train might be open by then!!

 

[rebbyparker]

And this is yet another aspect that I wonder about with FP+. What is Disney going to do for these families after this is done and rolled out? There will always be families split like this, with offsite and onsite. How are they going to ensure the families can participate together?

 

[chartle]

And this is yet another aspect that I wonder about with FP+. What is Disney going to do for these families after this is done and rolled out? There will always be families split like this, with offsite and onsite. How are they going to ensure the families can participate together?

Do you mean during the transition or after its fully implemented?

Once fully implemented on and off site guests would go to the same MDE to pick and register FP+s. The only difference is that on site would use a MB and off site would use a card to get in the FP+ line (unless the off site guest buys a MB).

Its never been stated that off site would never do FP+. In MHO its almost certain, Disney is not going to want to keep both systems in place.

 

[btk2333]

And this is yet another aspect that I wonder about with FP+. What is Disney going to do for these families after this is done and rolled out? There will always be families split like this, with offsite and onsite. How are they going to ensure the families can participate together?

They don't have to do anything- but I suspect the offsiters will eventually be able to make some fp+ reservations but maybe not as much as the onsiters. Right now off siters can't join their on site friends and family during emh- thy could just take the same policy with fpp

 

[rebbyparker]

Do you mean during the transition or after its fully implemented?

Once fully implemented on and off site guests would go to the same MDE to pick and register FP+s. The only difference is that on site would use a MB and off site would use a card to get in the FP+ line (unless the off site guest buys a MB).

Its never been stated that off site would never do FP+. In MHO its almost certain, Disney is not going to want to keep both systems in place.

No, I realise that. But they are going to have to make some special arrangements to ensure the family rides together, I would think.

They don't have to do anything- but I suspect the offsiters will eventually be able to make some fp+ reservations but maybe not as much as the onsiters. Right now off siters can't join their on site friends and family during emh- thy could just take the same policy with fpp

I would just hope that they have some plan in place so that families are not split up once they're in the parks and want to ride the same rides together.

 

[CarolynU]

I'm in the same situation. I have an annual and am saying onsite. If my son and his wife can get the time off they might be able to make a last minute trip to join me, but will be staying offsite.
If I link my AP and start trying to book FP+ the chances are that we won't be able to ride together. If I don't link my annual pass we can hopefully still get FP- when we go and if these passes haven't all gone by the time we get to the park(we aren't rope drop folks) we may get a FP- for the odd ride together. Or FP- might be gone by the time we go in which case we are stuck with standby. Or at least I think that's what the situation is, but I'm confused.
Oh for the old days of just rocking up together wherever and whenever we fancied and snagging FP's for whatever we wanted!

 

[chartle]

No, I realise that. But they are going to have to make some special arrangements to ensure the family rides together, I would think.

Isn't that what the Friends and Family "Linkup" (or whatever its called) is for? If off site can do FP+ why wouldn't they be able to link with you? Just like you can link with someone at another resort.

Just because off siter's may not get MBs does not mean they can't use FP+.

 

[AmyB2006]

I'm in the same situation. I have an annual and am saying onsite. If my son and his wife can get the time off they might be able to make a last minute trip to join me, but will be staying offsite. If I link my AP and start trying to book FP+ the chances are that we won't be able to ride together. If I don't link my annual pass we can hopefully still get FP- when we go and if these passes haven't all gone by the time we get to the park(we aren't rope drop folks) we may get a FP- for the odd ride together. Or FP- might be gone by the time we go in which case we are stuck with standby. Or at least I think that's what the situation is, but I'm confused. Oh for the old days of just rocking up together wherever and whenever we fancied and snagging FP's for whatever we wanted!

Well for now, if room capacity allows, you could add them on. My brother and his wife join us as day guests and I just added them onto my reservation so they get access to FP+.

What the future holds, I don't know.

 

[CarolynU]

Well for now, if room capacity allows, you could add them on. My brother and his wife join us as day guests and I just added them onto my reservation so they get access to FP+.

What the future holds, I don't know.

If there are more than two adults in the room then there is an extra fee to pay, so I wonder how much that would work out to? They would be staying for 9 days so this could turn out to be expensive. My son and his wife would still want to stay offsite as they collect Starwood points and want a room by themselves anyway. That would mean I'd be paying to add them on to a room that they wouldn't use simply to all be able to use FP+
At the moment this system doesn't work for us unless it changes before we go.

 

[aaarcher86]

If there are more than two adults in the room then there is an extra fee to pay, so I wonder how much that would work out to? They would be staying for 9 days so this could turn out to be expensive. My son and his wife would still want to stay offsite as they collect Starwood points and want a room by themselves anyway. That would mean I'd be paying to add them on to a room that they wouldn't use simply to all be able to use FP+ At the moment this system doesn't work for us unless it changes before we go.

$10 per adult at value per night

$15 at mod

$25 at deluxe

Nothing at campsites, suites, villas

 

[omurice]

And this is yet another aspect that I wonder about with FP+. What is Disney going to do for these families after this is done and rolled out? There will always be families split like this, with offsite and onsite. How are they going to ensure the families can participate together?

What CRO will do is say "Ah but let me tell you about the big family suites now at Art of Animation... for the low low price of only 290 to 490 per night! They sleep 6 and you might need to book two. Then you all have FP+!"
Not being sarcastic here -- one goal of all this may be to encourage people to stay on-property.

But supposedly in the long term, off-site guests and AP holders will also get access to FP+ and the Bands, it's just a question of "When?". It's taking such a long time to roll out MyMagic+ that...
(then a whole bunch of speculation I snipped out because I don't know the future)

 

[HookdonWDW]

I'm not trying to sound snarky, but I've been thinking this for a while and just want to throw it out there. Disney is a business. Like most businesses, they exist for their bottom line. I get that some people would rather stay offsite, or that they don't want to dine on property because it doesn't fit into their budget/ vacation style. That is their choice and their right. If they want to stay offsite for bigger, cheaper accommodations, to save money or to earn frequent stay credits, more power to them. But frankly, it's not Disney's problem. Disney needs to figure out how to fill the rooms they have on property and give people an incentive to want the above mentioned smaller, more expensive accommodations that don't earn frequent stay credits. Right now, they are offering FP+ and MB to onsite guests. This might (and probably will) change in the future.

If you want to make sure that everyone in your party has access to FP+ you know just what to do right now - book a room on site. Only you (or your extended family) can decide if FP+ is worth the price (which as of this moment is equal to the cost of onsite accommodations or paying to add on to someone's room). If it's not worth it to them, why should it suddenly become Disney's problem? They chose the Sheraton points over FP+. As we taught our children, life is full of choices. Everyone is complaining that there is no choice with the current policy and "testing". Of course there is. People just don't like the choices.

Reverse the situation... if Disney makes FP+ a "pay to play" program for those staying offsite, would you expect to be able to present your offsite hotel with a bill because they didn't include FP+ and you needed it so your family could ride attractions together?

This whole thing just reminds me of refillable mugs, staying offsite and being upset that you can't swim in the pools at the hotels you're not staying at and making salads at the Counter Service locations (after all, I paid SO MUCH for this vacation, so Disney OWES me X for free...).

 

[rebbyparker]

what cro will do is say "ah but let me tell you about the big family suites now at art of animation... For the low low price of only 290 to 490 per night! They sleep 6 and you might need to book two. Then you all have fp+!"
Not being sarcastic here -- one goal of all this may be to encourage people to stay on-property.

But supposedly in the long term, off-site guests and ap holders will also get access to fp+ and the bands, it's just a question of "when?". It's taking such a long time to roll out mymagic+ that...
(then a whole bunch of speculation i snipped out because i don't know the future)

lol.

 

[jiminyfan]

I'm in the same situation. I have an annual and am saying onsite. If my son and his wife can get the time off they might be able to make a last minute trip to join me, but will be staying offsite. If I link my AP and start trying to book FP+ the chances are that we won't be able to ride together. If I don't link my annual pass we can hopefully still get FP- when we go and if these passes haven't all gone by the time we get to the park(we aren't rope drop folks) we may get a FP- for the odd ride together. Or FP- might be gone by the time we go in which case we are stuck with standby. Or at least I think that's what the situation is, but I'm confused. Oh for the old days of just rocking up together wherever and whenever we fancied and snagging FP's for whatever we wanted!

We linked our APs and were still able to get legacy FPs. I agree this is one of the biggest issues with the new system. I just completed a survey today and pointed out that Walt built Disneyland, so his family could do everything together and they institute a system that does the opposite.

I would like to see a combo program where onsite guests. An do both FP+ and legacy

 

[CarolynU]

I'm not trying to sound snarky, but I've been thinking this for a while and just want to throw it out there. Disney is a business. Like most businesses, they exist for their bottom line. I get that some people would rather stay offsite, or that they don't want to dine on property because it doesn't fit into their budget/ vacation style. That is their choice and their right. If they want to stay offsite for bigger, cheaper accommodations, to save money or to earn frequent stay credits, more power to them. But frankly, it's not Disney's problem. Disney needs to figure out how to fill the rooms they have on property and give people an incentive to want the above mentioned smaller, more expensive accommodations that don't earn frequent stay credits. Right now, they are offering FP+ and MB to onsite guests. This might (and probably will) change in the future.

If you want to make sure that everyone in your party has access to FP+ you know just what to do right now - book a room on site. Only you (or your extended family) can decide if FP+ is worth the price (which as of this moment is equal to the cost of onsite accommodations or paying to add on to someone's room). If it's not worth it to them, why should it suddenly become Disney's problem? They chose the Sheraton points over FP+. As we taught our children, life is full of choices. Everyone is complaining that there is no choice with the current policy and "testing". Of course there is. People just don't like the choices.

Reverse the situation... if Disney makes FP+ a "pay to play" program for those staying offsite, would you expect to be able to present your offsite hotel with a bill because they didn't include FP+ and you needed it so your family could ride attractions together?

This whole thing just reminds me of refillable mugs, staying offsite and being upset that you can't swim in the pools at the hotels you're not staying at and making salads at the Counter Service locations (after all, I paid SO MUCH for this vacation, so Disney OWES me X for free...).

It isn't Disney's problem and I don't think that I ever said that it was, or maybe I did. I can't remember because I haven't read my original response.
Yes with Disney's business decision and current testing phase we have three options.
1. All stay onsite just to access FP+.
2. Stay as we are and accept that it is what it is.
3. Cancel the vacation.

I'm guessing that we will go with option 2. Then we will exercise our choice to respond to Disney's business model by deciding whether or not to return to WDW after this trip.

If by changing the way people vacation at their parks business rises and their hotels reach capacity then this will be a wise business decision. Revenue rises Disney is happy.
If the reverse happens and consumers are less happy than they once were so that repeat business lessens and isn't compensated for by a rise in new business and the hotels are not showing an increase, then revenue will go down. Presumably Disney will be less happy.
Only time will tell.

We are quite happy to return to WDW if the situation is right for us but are equally happy to go elsewhere. The world is huge and is full of interesting places. It might be time to explore some more of them, and make good use of those Starwood points!

 

[Robo]

There are not nearly enough WDW resort hotel rooms to handle the guest population generated by the parks.

 

[AmyB2006]

If there are more than two adults in the room then there is an extra fee to pay, so I wonder how much that would work out to? They would be staying for 9 days so this could turn out to be expensive. My son and his wife would still want to stay offsite as they collect Starwood points and want a room by themselves anyway. That would mean I'd be paying to add them on to a room that they wouldn't use simply to all be able to use FP+
At the moment this system doesn't work for us unless it changes before we go.

Oh I wasn't aware. We stay at the DVC Villas and there's no extra charge. Well I probably wouldn't do that either then. :/